Dehydrating



July 28;, 1925.

M. E. BUSSLER DEHYDRATING APPARATUS Filed 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iii .ented duty 28*,

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Application filed August 6, 192%. 'ScrialNo. 730,538.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTHA E. BUSSLER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dehydrating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in dehydrating apparatus, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dehydrating unit of simplified construction which affords facilities for utilizing heat from any suitable and ordinary source of heat supply to effect the practically complete dehydration of various commodities, such as fruits, vegetables, fish, meats and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dehydrating unit of the character described which affords facilities for utilizing a relatively large percentage of a given amount of heat in the dehydration of articles which have been placed within the device.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a dehydrating unit of conveniently movable means for supporting the articles which are to be dehydrated within the unit so that such articles can be quickly and easily removed from the unit or placed within the unit when desired or moved from one place to another place within the unit.

Uther objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whichv Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dehydrating unit embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section through the unit,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a slidable shutter for controlling the flow of air into the case of the unit,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the unit,

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6--6 of Figure 4.

- A dehydrating unit embodying the invention comprises a box-like case which includes a pair'of parallel side walls 1, a top wall'2, a front wall 3, a rear wall 4: and a bottom wall 5 all oined together integrally or otherwise in any suitable known manner and preferably being braced and supported in slightly elevated position in respect to a supporting surface 6' by a frame 7 in which the box-like case'is 'held, the frame 7 being formed of angle members arranged with the flanges of each member in embracing relation to the meeting edge portions of two adjacent walls of the box-like case, and the members of the frame preferably being secured by rivets 8 or like fastening devices to the walls of the case. The frame 7 has leg portions 9 on which it stands so that the bottom wall 5 of the case will be supported in slightly spaced relation to the flat supporting surface 6.

It of course is to be understood that the walls of the case of the unit may comprise a plurality of superposed plies of any suitable material or materials, any one or all of which may have heat insulating qualities.

The front wall of the box-like case has a substantially rectangular opening 10 in the upper portion thereof. An inner casing 11 extends from the walls of the opening 10 inwardly of the box-like casing which will be hereinafter referred to as the outer casing. The inner casing 11 is rectangular in cross sectional contour and extends rearwardly from its juncture with the walls of the opening 10 in the outer casing in spaced relation to the inner wall of the outer casing for approximately two-thirds of the dis tance from the front wall of the outer casing to the rear wall of the outer casing.

The inner casing is closed at its inner end by a rear wall 11 With the arrangement just described, the space within the inner casing defines a chamber which is located wholly within the outer casing but is out of communication with the space within the outer casing and is disposed within the upper part of the outer casing. The lnner casing is supported by pairs of vertical elongated supports 12 which are upstanding from a horizontal baffle plate 13 in the lower part of the outer casing and are secured at their upper ends to the side walls of the inner casing 11, there preferably being two of the supports 12 attached to each side wall of the inner casing 11. A door 1 1 for closing the inner casing at its front may be attached by hinges 15 to the frame 7 and may be releasably held in position to close the opening 10 in any suitable known manner, as by means of a latch 16 carried by the door 14: for engaging with a keeper 17 on an adjacent member of the frame 7. A vent pipe 18 opens at one end through the rear wall of the inner easing into the chamber within the inner casing and extends through a suitable opening 19 in the top wall of the outer casing, the connection of the ventpipe 18 with the wall of the opening 19 being fluid tight. A vertical series of pairs of horizontally aligned rails 20 is provided within the inner casing 11, the respective rails of each pair being secured to the inner walls of the sides of the inner casing. erably is an angle iron having one flangethereof secured to the inner face of a side wall of the inner casing and having the other flange thereof extending laterally inward in the chamber within the inner casing, the horizontal flanges of the rails of each'pair being located in the same plane. Each pair of rails 20 is adapted to support a tray 21 which may be slid to and from position thereon through the opening 10 when the door 14 is open.

A vertical series of pairs of transversely aligned inclined rails 22 is provided within the outer casing underneath the inner casing 11, the respective rails 22 of each pair being secured against the inner sides of the uprights 12 at opposite sides of the inner casing 1, whereby the distance between the rails 22 of each pair is approximately the same ,as the distance between the rails 20 of each pair and each pair of rails 22 therefore is adapted to support one of the trays 21.

The rails 22 are inclined slightly toward their rearward ends and the respective pairs of rails 22 terminate out of alignment vertically with one another at both their forward and rearward ends, the rails 22 of each pair except the upper rails 22 terminating at their forward ends rearwardly of the pair of rails 22 next thereabove and also terminating at their rearward ends rearwardly of the pair of rails next thereabove. The front wall of the outer casing is provided with a substantially rectangular opening 23 below the opening 10 and in front of the forward end of the series of pairs of rails 22. Trays 21 may be moved through Each of the rails 20 pref--' the opening 23 to and from position to rest upon the pairs of rails 22. A door 2 1 is attached by hinges 25 to a suitable member of the frame 7 and normally closes the opening 23, being releasably held in closed position by latch bolts as at 26 in engagement with keepers 27 on the adjacent member of the frame 7.

A blower fan 28 is supported within the outer casing upon a bracket 29 which is hingedly attached as at 30 to one of the side walls of the outer casing so that the bracket may be swung laterally to position the blower fan 28 in front of the series of pairs of rails 22, when desired. Any suitable known means may be provided for en ergizing the fan 28 when desired, no means being shown in the drawing. 7

The bottom wall of the outer casing is provided with an inlet opening 31 located adjacent to the juncture of the bottom wall with the rear wall 4 andestablishing communication between the space beneath the outer casing and the space between the bottom wall and the horizontal baffle plate 13. A shutter 32 is movable slidably along the lower face of the bottom wall 5 to and from position to close the opening 31 or to regulate the volume of air permitted to pass there-through, as desired. The shutter 32 is held slidably against the lower face of the bottom 5 through the agency of a handle 33 and spaced apart guiding and retaining eyes 31 which depend from the bottom wall 5 and through which the handle 33 extends. The handle is provided at its outer end with a loop portion 35 which can be grasped conveniently by the hand of an operator who desires to manipulate the shutter 32 to vary the position thereof in respect to the inlet opening 31.

The space between the horizontal baffle 13 and the bottom wall 5 opens into the space proper within the outer casing forwardly of the vertical plane in which the forward ends of the lowermost rails 22 terminate. A vertical baflle 36 extends transversely across the bottom wall 5 of the outer casing underneath the fan 28 and in front of the open end of the S3386 between the horizontal baffle 13 and'the bottom wall 5. I

The vertical baffle 36 is shown being slidably engaged at its opposite ends with vertL- cal guideways each of which is provided by a pair of spaced vertical guides 37 attached to the inner face of one of the side walls of the outer casing whereby the vertical bal'l e 36 may be removed from the interior of the outer casing through the opening 23 when desired.

The space within the outer casing is provided with a vent pipe 38 which opens through the top wall 2 above the inner casing 11 and adjacent to the juncture of the top wall 2 with the front wall 3 of the outer casing. Both the vent pipes 18 and 38 may be provided with dampers of ordinary construction operable by handles, as at 39 for the vent pipe 18 and 40 for the vent pipe The temperature within the outer casing may be indicated externally of the outer casing by means of a thermometer 41 carried by one of the walls of the outer casing and having the scale thereof readable exteriorly of the outer casing.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The unit may be placed in association with any suitable source of heat, as for example in the heating chamber of any suitable furnace. Trays 21 containing fresh material which is to be dehydrated are placed upon the pairs of rails 22 within the chamber of the outer casing. The shutter 32 then is adjusted in respect to the opening 81 to permit a desired volume of heated air to enter the chamber within the outer casing. The heated air passes from the space between the horizontal baflle 13 and the bottom wall against the vertical baflie 36 and then is deflected up wardly. The fan 28 acts on the upwardly ascending currents of heated air and forces such currents of air rearwardly and upwardly about the trays on the pairs of rails 22 and between adjacent trays. The currents of heated air must return to the forward end of the outer casing after being blown rearwardly by the fan in order to escape from the interior of the outer casing through the vent 38 and in order to reach such vent, the currents of heated air strike the inner casing 11 and pass about the latter on all sides thereof, whereby the interior of the casing 11 will be heated. It has been found in actual practice' that the products will he more satisfactorily dehydrated by removing the trays from the pairs of rails 22 after ap proximately two-thirds of the moisture of the products has been removed through the action of the heated air currents within the space within the outer casing and then placing the trays within the inner casing 11 upon the rails 20 therein until practically all the moisture has been removed from the articles in the trays. I therefore term the space within the inner casing 11 a curing chamber and the space within the outer casing and surrounding the casing 11 as the primary dehydrating chamber. The temperature within the dehydrating chamber can be regulated within limits due to operation of the damper in the vent pipe 38. The damper in the vent pipe 18 likewise can be manipulated to vary the temperature within the curing chamber.

Obviously, my invention is susceptible of embodiments in forms other than that illustrated in the accompanying drawings and I therefore consider as myown all such modifications and adaptations of the form of the device herein described as fairly fall. within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A dehydrating unit comprising a case having an inlet in its bottom and an outlet in its top, and an inner case supported within said first named case between said inlet and said outlet, the space within said inner case being out of communication with the space within said first named case.

2. In a dehydrating unit comprising a case having an inlet in its bottom. and an outlet in its top, an inner case supported within said first named case between said inlet and said outlet, the space within said inner casing being out of communication with the space within said first named case, means within said inner case for supporting articles which are to be dehydrated, and other means within said first named case between said inner case and the inlet for supporting articles which are to be dehydrated.

3. In a dehydrating unit, a box-like case having an inlet at the bottom and an outlet in its top, said case having an opening in the front wall thereof and a swingable door ,for closing said opening, means within said case for supporting a vertical series of pairs of transversely aligned inclined rails, said rails extending longitudinally of the case and each pair of rails being adapted to support a removable tray thereon, the rails of each pair except the upper pair terminating at their opposite ends rearwardly of the corresponding ends of the pair of rails next thereabove, a blower fan supported within said case forwardly of said series of pairs of rails, and means within said case for deflecting currents of air ontering said inlet toward said fan and between said fan and the forward ends of said pairs of rails.

41-. In a dehydrating unit, a box-like (*ase having an inlet at the bottom and an outlet in its top, said case having an opening in the front wall thereof and a swingable door for closing said opening, means within said case for supporting a vertical series of pairs of transversely aligned inclined rails, said rails extending longitudinally of the case and each pair of rails being adapted to support a removable tray thereon, the rails of each pair except the upper pair terminating at their opposite ends rearwardly of the corresponding ends of the pair of rails next thereabove, a blower fan supported within said case forwardly of said series of pairs of rails, means within said case for deflecting currents of air entering said inlet toward said fan and between said fan and the forward ends of I said pairs of rails, and a second casing disposed within said first named case above said series of pairs of rails, said second named case opening through the front Wall of said first named case, the space within said second named case being out of registration With the interior of the first named case said second named casehaving an outlet, and means Within said second named case for supporting therewithin in spaced apart relation a plurality of articles which are to be cured, and means Visible exte- 10 riorly of said case for indicating the temperature Within said case.

MARTHA ELSA BUSSLER. 

